Rishi Sunak has refused a problem to apologise for the UK’s position in historic slavery and rejected a name to decide to reparations when requested within the Commons at PMQs.
Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy stated: “Prime ministers and heads of state have solely ever expressed sorrow or deep remorse. These usually are not sentiments which can be befitting one of many best atrocities in human historical past.
“There has been no acknowledgement of the wealth that has been amassed or the truth that our nation took out the biggest mortgage it ever has to repay the slave homeowners, and never the enslaved.”
She requested: “Will he do what Bernie Grant requested all these years in the past, what I’ve requested, and what numerous others have requested since, and provide a full and significant apology for our nation’s position in slavery and colonialism, and decide to reparatory justice?”
Mr Sunak replied: “No. What I feel our focus ought to now be on doing is, in fact, understanding our historical past and all its elements, not operating away from it, however proper now ensuring that now we have a society which is inclusive and tolerant of individuals from all backgrounds.
“That’s something that we on this side of the House are committed to doing and will continue to deliver, but trying to unpick our history is not the right way forward, and it’s not something that we will focus our energies on.”
